Westbrook rules himself out of U.S. World Cup

Russell Westbrook won't play for Team USA. Plus the Thunder, OSU Cowboys, and ORU Golden Eagles were all represented in the NBA's Summer League, and it's U.S. Senior Open week at Oak Tree National in Edmond.

Russell Westbrook won't play for Team USA. Plus the Thunder, OSU Cowboys, and ORU Golden Eagles were all represented in the NBA's Summer League, and it's U.S. Senior Open week at Oak Tree National in Edmond.

Westbrook, 25, who won gold medals on the U.S. team at the 2010 World Championship and 2012 Olympics Games, missed almost half of last season with the Thunder because of knee injuries.

“I have received confirmation from Russell that he will not be participating in this summer's USA Basketball Men's National Team training and the World Cup due to his need to rest,” USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said in a statement Tuesday.

“We've been communicating with Russell since the Thunder's season ended and we've known this was a possibility.

"As much as we would love to have him this summer and as much as he'd like to play for the United States this summer, this is the right decision."

Westbrook, who has long been favored by U.S. national coach Mike Krzyzewski, has opted out of a July training camp, an August exhibition tour and the Aug. 30-Sept. 14 World Cup.